Signature handling system

ABSTRACT

A loose shingled stream of signatures is conveyed to a dense shingling location. A tray is supported at the dense shingling location on an elevator. A dense shingled array of signatures is formed at the dense shingling location. The elevator is raised to move the tray with the dense shingled array thereon to a tray removal location for removal from the elevator. A means is provided for removing the tray from the elevator when it is located at the tray removal location. The means for removing the tray from the elevator comprises a vertically movable carriage having extensible load-carrying arms thereon so that the arms are extensible beneath the tray on the elevator. The arms are then raised to pick up the tray from the elevator and then retracted in order to withdraw the tray. The load-carrying arms are extensible in a direction away from the elevator so that the tray may be deposited on a suitable support on the side of the carriage opposite where the elevator is located.

United States Patent 1191 Rana [ SIGNATURE HANDLING SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Victoriano Fernandez Rana, Easton,

[73] Assignee: l-Iarris-Intertype Corporation,

Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: May 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 360,897

[52] U.S. Cl. 214/7, 93/93 R, 214/6 P, 214/152 [51] Int. Cl. B65g 57/00 [58] Field of Search 2l4/l S, 6 M, 6 P, 7,152; 93/93 R, 93 M, 93 DP; 198/133 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,883,074 4/1959 Boehl et al. 214/6 P 3,013,292 l2/l96l McCormick et al. 93/93 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 913,560 l2/l962 United Kingdom 93/93 Primary Examiner-Frank E. Werner [57] ABSTRACT A loose shingled stream of signatures is conveyed to a dense shingling location. A tray is supported at the dense shingling location on an elevator. A dense shingled array of signatures is formed at the dense shingling location. The elevator is raised to move the tray with the dense shingled array thereon to a tray removal location for removal from the elevator. A means is provided for removing the tray from the elevator when it is located at the tray removal location. The means for removing the tray from the elevator comprises a vertically movable carriage having extensible load-carrying arms thereon so that the arms are extensible beneath the tray on the elevator. The arms are then raised to pick up the tray from the elevator and then retracted in order to withdraw the tray. The load-carrying arms are extensible in a direction away from the elevator so that the tray may be deposited on a suitable support on the side of the carriage opposite where the elevator is located.

28 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEU APR 1 5 SEEZET 3 [IF 5 PATENTED 1 5 saw u o 5 SIGNATURE HANDLING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention is directed to a system for handling signatures, and in particular a system in which signatures are formed in a shingled relationship on a tray at a shingling location and wherein the tray is then moved from the shingling location for purposes of storage of the tray and the signatures thereon.

The present invention is related to applications Ser. No. 302,848, filed Nov. 1, l972, entitled Method and Apparatus for Storing Sheet Material Articles, and Ser. N0. 342,739, filed Mar. 19, 1973, entitled Method and Apparatus for Handling Sheet Material Articles, both assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Application Ser. No. 302,848 discloses a particular type of tray for receiving and storing signatures thereon. The tray is formed with a dense shingled array of signatures by a mechanism as shown in application Ser. No. 358,124 filed May 7, 1973, entitled Method and Apparatus for Forming a Dense Shingled Array of Signatures. The disclosures of those applications are specifically incorporated herein for purposes of amplifying the present disclosure.

As set forth in the previous applications, it has been suggested that signatures which are used in making a newspaper, magazine or the like may be printed well prior to the time that the newspaper or magazine is assembled. Those signatures may be stored until it is time for the newspaper or magazine to be assembled. The signatures that are stored are then combined with other signatures in suitable stuffing or gathering machine where the newspaper or magazine is assembled. As noted hereinabove, the signatures preferably are stored on a tray, and a plurality of trays are combined together in a storage module. That module is stored until it is desired that the signatures be combined into a final newspaper or magazine, and at that time the signatures are removed from the module and suitably combined in a stuffing machine.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION A primary aspect of the present invention is directed to the removal of filled trays from the mechanism in which the trays are loaded. The invention also involves the positioning of empty trays in the mechanism.

As noted in application Ser. No. 358,124 an elevator mechanism is provided which indexes in a vertical direction. A dense shingled array of signatures is formed adjacent the elevator mechanism so that upon indexing vertical movement of a tray, the dense shingled array of signature becomes located on the tray. The tray is then moved vertically on the elevator mechanism to a position for removal from the mechanism. The elevator mechanism, as disclosed in application Ser. No. 358. l 24, may support trays in a plurality of positions as follows: l an empty tray in a lower position, (2) a tray in a dense shingling location immediately adjacent to where the dense shingled array of signatures is formed and (3) a full tray at a tray removal location.

The present invention is directed specifically to a system which ineoroporates an automatic means for removing the full trays from the elevator mechanism and for depositing those full trays on a suitable support which may be either a pallet or a module, or any other suitable support from which the trays may be further handled. The specific mechanism for removing the loaded trays from the elevator mechanism includes a carriage which is vertically movable. The vertically movable earriage includes extensible arms which can be extended to opposite sides of the carriage and may be extended toward the elevator mechanism and under a loaded tray on the elevator mechanism. The carrriage is then moved vertically in order to lift a loaded tray from the elevator mechanism. Once the tray is supported on the extensible arms, the extensible arms may be retracted toward the carraige. The construction of the carriage and the arms is such that the arms may be extended to the opposite side of the carriage and carry the full tray to the side of the carriage opposite the side where the elevator is located. At this location, the carriage may be moved vertically downwardly to deposit the tray onto the support.

Preferably, the carriage incorporates a second set of extensible arms whichmay be utilized for depositing the tray onto the support. Preferably, the loaded tray is deposited on top of another full tray. In such a case, the first set of arms which engages the loaded tray centrally thereof may interfere with the signatures on the full tray. Accordingly, a second pair of load-carrying arms may engage the loaded tray which is to be deposited at a location outwardly of the first pair of arms and also laterally outwardly of the array of signatures on the full tray on which the loaded tray is being deposited. As a result, there is no interference between the second set of arms and the signatures on the full tray on which the loaded tray is being deposited.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the trays are deposited on a pallet for purposes of storage. The trays may be removed from the elevator mechanism one at a time, or may be removed a plurality at a time. The pallet may be stored with a plurality of trays on it, and the pallet may be removed from storage when it is desired to use the signatures on the trays for delivery into a suitable stuffing machine.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a mechanism, i.e., similar to the mechanism for unloading a loaded tray from the elevator, is utilized for depositing an empty tray on the elevator mechanism for delivery by the elevator into the dense shingling location. This mechanism may remove empty trays from a module and deposit them onto the elevator at the desired location. This mechanism includes extensible arms which are extensible to opposite sides of a vertically movable carriage, the carriage being located between the module and the elevator mechanism. The extensible arms extend outwardly and engage an empty tray and move it from one side of the carriage to the opposite side and deposit it on the elevator mechanism. Once deposited on the elevator mechanism, the elevator mechanism, when it indexes, moves the empty tray into the tray-loading position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the same mechanism which removes an empty tray from a module and deposits it on the elevator mechanism removes the full tray from the elevator and deposits it in a module that has been emptied. The emptied module is moved into position for receiving the full trays, and the mechanism which operates to place the empty trays on the elevator and to remove the full trays from the elevator has sufficient vertical travel to perform these functions.

In other embodiment of the present invention, separate mechanisms may be utilized, one for removing empty trays from the module and placing them on the elevator mechanism, and another for removing the full tryas from the elevator and depositing the full trays in a module.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof made with reference to the following drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a system constructed in accordance with the present invention and wherein retriever assemblies are utilized to transfer empty support trays from a storage module to a loading station and to transfer support trays loaded with signatures from the loading station to a receiving station, the retrievers being omitted for purposes of clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a support tray utilized in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of full trays disposed in a mdoule for purposes of storage;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration, taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, illustrating the transfer of empty trays to the loading station and the removal of full trays;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective illustration of a retriever mechanism utilized in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the invention in which a single retriever mechanism is utilized to transfer empty trays to a loading location and to remove full trays;

FIG. 7 is another embodiment of the invention in which full trays are transferred to a storage pallet by a retriever mechanism;

FIG. 8 is an illustration depicting a storage pallet which has been partially loaded by the retriever mechanism of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As noted hereinabove, the present invention relates to a mechanism and system for handling of signatures, and particularly to a stystem in which signatures are formed in a dense shingled array and stored on a tray. The tray is stored until the desired time when the signatures are need for purposes of assembly into a newspaper or magazine in a stuffing machine. As noted hereinabove, application Ser. No. 302,848 discloses a suitable mechanism and tray for receiving and storing signatures. Application Ser. No. 358,124 which is also assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a suitable meehansim for forming the signatures into a dense shingled arrangement on the trays. The present invention is directed to the system and specifically emphasizes the mechanism for removing the full trays from the dense shingling mechanism and also cmphasizes the mechanism for loading empty trays into the dense shingling mechanism.

FIG. 1 is a general schematic view illustrating in schematic form portions of one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, signatures are conveyed by a conveyer mechanism 10 to a dense shingling location or tray-loading station, generally designated 11. At

the tray-loading location 11 a suitable mechanism is provided for forming the loose shingled stream of signatures into a densely shingled array. The specific mechanism is preferably such disclosed in application Ser. No. 358,124. However, such a mechanism may take many different forms.

As shown in copending application Ser. No. 358,124 a pair of conveyers l2 and 13 are located at the dense shingling or tray-loading location 11. The conveyers have wedges 14 thereon which move in a retracting direction as signatures are delivered onto the conveyer belts 12 and 13. As the signatures move onto the belts 12 and 13, their lead edge engages the inclined forward surface of the wedges 14 and are deflected upwardly. The signatures then settle and rest on the inclined surface on the wedges 14. Other signatures engage the inclined surface of the signature which was last delivered to the wedge 14 and the lead edges thereof is deflected upwardly by the supported signature. As signatures are delivered by the conveyer 10 to the conveyers 12 and 13, the wedge 14 is moved by the conveyers 12 and 13 in a retracting direction to form a dense shingled array of signatures. When the wedge 14 has reached a fully retracted position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1

and designated 14a, and elevator mechanism, generally designated 17, is indexed upwardly.

The elevator mechanism 17 includes a pair of chains at opposite ends of the conveyers 12 and 13. The chains have suitable support means thereon generally designated 18 for supporting the opposite ends of the trays 20. The trays 20 are supported at the dense shingling or tray-loading position immediately beneath the surface of the conveyers 12 and 13. After the wedges 14 have been moved to the far end of the tray, the elevator mechanism indexes upwardly and the tray 20 picks up the dense shingled array of signatures from the conveyer belts 12 and 13 and carries the dense shingled array to a full tray removal position, generally designated 22.

A tray 20 on which a dense shingled array of signatures is deposited at the loading location is best seen in FIG. 2. The tray 20 includes a central support portion on which the signatures are formed in a dense shingled array. The tray also includes an upper wedgeshaped end portion 31 having an inclined surface 32. The signatures, when formed in the dense shingled array, lie or are supported by the surface 32. The opposite cnd of the tray 20 has a wedge-shaped portion 33 which projects downwardly and which portion 33 has a tapered surface portion 34 for a purpose to be described hereinbelow. The opposite ends of the tray 20 have suitable support rods or bars 35, 36. The support bars 35, 36 are adapted to cooperate with suitable support elements 18, carried on the opposite ends of the elevator mechanism 17 so that the trays may be readily supported by the elevator mechanism 17 with the central portion 30 in a horizontal orientation.

Once the trays are filled with a dense shingled array of signatures, the trays are stored in a suitable storage module 40. The storage module 40 may be of any suitable construction, and is described in complete detail in the aforementioned application Ser. No. 302,848. In essence, the storage module 40 (FIG. 3) comprises a frame 41 in which the full trays 20 are supported. Each tray is supported with the signatures on the upper tray being supported on the signatures in the lower tray. For example, the first tray designated 20a in FIG. 3 and the second tray, generally designated h, are located so that the central or support portion of the tray 20!) would be supported in a horizontal orientation on the upper edge of the signatures carried on the tray 2110. Moreover, the inclined surface 34 of the wedge portion 33 of the tray 2012 would engage the signatures carried on the tray 20a. Likewise, the tray 200 would be supported in a similar manner on the signatures on tray 20h. It should be understood that the tray and module structure, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is merely exemplary and modifications may be made therein without departing from the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a module 4011 is positioned adjacent the left side of the elevator mechanism 17, as viewed in the direction of feed of the signatures to the elevator mechanism. The module a holds a plurality of trays which are generally designated 20a and all of which are empty. The trays 20d and the module 40a are delivered into position on a suitable conveyor 46.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIG. 4, a suitable retriever mechanism, generally designated 60, is disposed intermediate the empty tray module 40:: which holds empty tray 20d and the elevator mechanism 17 which moves loaded trays from the loading location 11. The mechanism is provided for the purpose of removing empty trays from the module 40:: and placing them on the elevator mechanism 17 at the loading location 11.

A second retriever mechanism 61 which is similar in construction to the mechanism 60, is provided to transfer loaded trays 20 from the loading location 11 to the storage module 40. The retriever mechanism 60 and 61 are of similar construction and may take a variety of different forms. The retriever mechanism 61 specifically includes a carriage, schematically illustrated as 62 in H6. 5, and which is vertically movalbe upon rotation of a plurality of screws 64 on which the carriage is mounted. The carriage 62 carries a pair of extensible arm assemblies 66 and 67.

The arms assemblies 66 and 67 include a plurality of sections which are extendable in opposite directions from a telescopically nested position on the carriage 62. Although the specific construction of the drive arrangement for the sections of the arm assemblies 66 and 67 is not, per se, part of the present invention, it is contemplated that these drive assemblies will be constructed in a manner similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,232,455 and 3,596,789. Although only the retriever mechanism 61 is shown in FIG. 5, it should be understood that the retriever mechanism 60 includes arm assemblies 661: and 67a of the same construction as the arm assemblies 66 and 67.

The arm assemblies 66a, 67a of the retriever mechanism 60 are moved outwardly of the carriage 62 under the influence of reversible drive assemblies similar to the drive assemblies 68 and 69 of FIG. 5 in order to be located beneath a support portion of an empty tray in the module 40a. The carriage 62 is then moved vertically in order to engage an empty tray 2011 with the arm assemblies 66a, 67a. The arm assemblies 66a and 6711 are then retracted from the module 400 and thereby carry the empty tray 20d toward the carriage 62. The carriage 62 then moves vertically to align the tray 20d with support elements 18 on the elevator 17.

The arm assemblies 66a and 670, when extended in the direction of the elevator 17, project between the chains at the opposite ends of the conveyers 12 and 13.

The carriage 62 then moves vertically downwardly and deposits the tray on the elevator supports, specifically the end portions 35, 36 of the tray 30 are received on and supported by the support elements 18 on the elevator mechanism 17. Any tray that is supported on the elevator mechanism 17 is indexed upwardly into the dense shingling position, as shown in FIG. 1, when a shingled array has been formed on the conveyers 12 and 13. The elevator mechanism 17 then raises the tray to remove the shingled signatures from the loading location ll. The elevator 17 moves the loaded tray 20 to the tray removal position 22 where it is engaged by the retriever mechanism 61.

The retriever mechanism 61 removes full trays from the elevator mechanism 17 and transfers them to the storage module 40. With the arm assemblies 66 and 67 extended toward the left (as viewed in FIG. 4), the arm assemblies extend beneath the loaded tray on the elevator mechanism 17. Upon raising movement of the carriage 62 under the influence of the screws 64, the arm assemblies raise the loaded tray from the supports 18 on the elevator mechanism 17. The arm assemblies 66 and 67 are extensible to the opposite side of the carriage 62 under the influence of the reversible drives 68 and 69. When the arm assemblies 66 and 67 have'been extended to the right, as viewed in FIG. 4., they extend into the module 40. This enables the retriever mechanism 61 to deposit a loaded tray 20 in the module 40 on previous trays which have been deposited therein.

The retriever mechanism 61 which removes the full trays 62 from the elevator mechanism 17 and deposits them in the module 40 is provided with a second set of load-carrying arms, which are generally designated 80, 81. The second set of extensible arms are provided for the purpose of engaging the end portions 35, 36 of a full tray immediately before the full tray is deposited on a full tray already located in the module 63. The arm 66, 67 engage the full tray centrally thereof in order to support the greatest load and engage in the area of the greatest load of the tray. However, in view of the fact that the arms are located to support the tray and engage the tray in the central portion thereof, whenthe tray is deposited in the module or on top of another full tray, the arms 66, 67 may interfere with the signatures which are on the tray on which the full tray being dcposited is to be received. As a result, immediately before depositing the full tray, the arms 66, 67 are retracted and the second support arms 80, 81 move into and engage the support bars 35, 36 at opposite ends of the tray. This engagement occurs only momentarily for purposes of deposit of the full tray on another tray. When this occurs, the carriage 62 lowers for purposes of depositing the full tray now supported on the additional arms 80, 81 onto the full tray. As a result, the arrangement of the arms 80, 81 is such that the arms are located outside or laterally of the array of signatures on the lower tray, and thereby do not interefere with the signatures on the lower tray.

The reversible drives 68 and 69 are operable to extend and retract the arm assemblies and 81 independently of the arm assemblies 66 and 67. Therefore, the arm assemblies 66 and 67 can be retracted while the arm assemblies 80 and 81 remain extended. It should be noted that the arm assemblies 80 and 81 have a small width so that they can fit into the space between the loaded trays 20 and the sides of the module 40.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the empty module 400 is located on the left side of the elevator mechanism 17 and is carried in a suitable convcyer mechanism which may index vertically upwardly during operation of the retriever mechanism 63. As schematically illustrated in FIG. 4, a suitable elevator mechanism, generally designated 100, is provided for this purpose. The elevator mechanism 100 may be timed to the operation of the other parts of the mechanism so to index at the proper time and in the proper sequence of operation. Once the elevator mechanism is indexed sufficently, a module is located in an upper position, designated 40b in FIG. 4. When an empty module is located in the position generally designated 401;, a suitable conveyer mechanism is provided for purposes of latching onto and conveying the empty module 40b laterally over the elevator mechanism 17. This conveyor mechanism is generally designated 101.

Full modules 40 or modules that are being filled, are supported in an elevator mechanism generally designated 102. The elevator mechanism 102 supports a full module 40 and may be of any suitable construction. As full trays are received in the module 40 on the elevator mechanism 102, the elevator mechanism lowers the module. When the module 40 is fully loaded, the elevator mechanism 102 is actuated in order to deposit the full module on a conveyer mechanism 103 which removes or moves the full module from the apparatus for purposes of storage. The module 40 which is located on the elevator 102 may be positioned automatically on the conveyer 103 by operation of the elevator 102. The conveyer 101 may be suitably operated in order to convey an empty module into position over the elevator mechanism 102 and a suitable mechanism, not shown, is actuated in order to release the module and deposit it in position on the elevator l02.

As noted hereinabove, the present invention provides a mechanism for loading empty trays onto the elevator mechanism and for removing full trays from the elevator mechanism, so that the entire operation of shingling and forming signatures into a dense shingled array and providing for storage of those signatures in a suitable storage container, or support, is effected. Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated schematically in FIG. 6 in which a single retriever mechanism 125 is utilized to load empty trays onto an elevator and to remove empty trays from the elevator.

The retriever mechanism 125 is provided on one side of the elevator mechanism 17, namely, the left side as illustrated in FIG. 6. The retriever mechanism 125 is operable to remove empty trays, designated 126, from the module 127 which contains the empty trays and is also operable to move vertically to a position such as shown at 125a for removing full trays from the elevator mechanism 17 and depositing them in a module for containing full trays, and which module is designated 130. After a predetermined number of trays have been removed from the module 127 and a predetermined number of full trays have been deposited in the module 130. the modules 127, 130 may be indexed vertically for further emptying of the module 127 and further filling of the module 130. Once the module 130 is completely filled, it is removed from the machine in the direction of the arrow 131, and the empty module 127 may be indexed up in order to be the next module for receiving full trays.

A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 7. The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 7 is a simplification of that described in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7. the trays may be manually placed on the elevator mechanism 17 and indexed vertically into a tray-loading position. Once the trays are received in the tray-loading position, they are loaded with the signatures and are then indexed vertically to the tray removal position shown in FIG. 7. In the tray removal position, a suitable retriever mechanism, designated 150 and of a construction similar to that described above in connection with FIG. 5, is provided for purposes of removing the full trays from the elevator mechanism. The loaded trays are placed on a suitable pallet, designated 151, on a conveyer 152 (see FIG. 8). Once the pallet 151 is loaded, the conveyer 152 may be operated in order to remove the full pallet from loading position. The unloading mechanism 150, as noted hereinabove, moves vertically for purposes of unloading and depositing the full trays on the pallet 151 and may be manually operated through its desired path of movement. Moreover, the elevator mechanism may be operated in order to remove two or more full trays from the elevator mechanism simultaneously. This is true also of the mechanisms disclosed above with re-' spect to FIGS. 4 and 5, that is, in any one of the embodiments a plurality of loaded trays may be removed from the mechanism at the same time.

To facilitate the removal of two trays at a time from the elevator 17 of FIG. 7, a latch assembly 200 is provided to hold a loaded tray 201 while a next succeeding tray 202 is loaded with signatures. Once the tray 202 has been loaded, it is moved upwardly into engagement with the tray 201 under the influence of the elevator 17. The arm assemblies on the retriever 150 are then moved into supporting engagement with the lower tray 202. The latch assembly 200 is then released and the two loaded trays 201 and 202 are transferred to the pallet 151.

A still further embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9 a system, generally designated 300, is provided in which signatures are formed into a dense shingled arrangement at a dense shingling location, generally designated 301. The dense shingling structure at the dense shingling station 301 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1 and will not be described again in detail. It should suffice, however, to say that at the dense shingling location 301 a tray 302 is supported on an elevator mechanism which includes a pair of chains 303 located at one end of the tray and a second pair of chains 304 located at the other end of the tray. The chains, of course, support the tray at the dense shingling location while an array of densely shingled signatures is formed at the station.

The densely shingeld signatures are formed on a pair of conveyor belts 306, 307 which carry wedge members 308. The wedge members retract in the direction of the arrow 309 as the signatures are formed into the dense shingled array. Once the densely shingled array of signatures is formed above the tray 302, the elevator mechanism indexes vertically upwardly so as to cause the tray to engage the signatures and then pick up the signatures from the belts 306, 307. The elevator mechanism continues to move vertically to move the full tray from the dense shingling station 301 into a tray removal position at which tray 310 is located. At the same time,

the elevator mechanism indexes an empty tray, such as the tray designated 311. into the dense shingling location.

The empty tray 311 may be suitably located for pickup by the elevator chains 303. 304 by sliding the trays into position manually or through the use of an indexing conveyor mechanism which is generally designated 315. The indexing conveyor mechanism 315 includes a pair of spaced chains which have pusher members on them and which pusher members selectively engage a tray located in position for movement into cooperative engagement with the elevator. The empty trays mamy be manually located in position for engagement by the pushers of the conveyor mechanism 315. Of course, the manual arrangement is such that the trays are slid along a horizontally extending support and when slid into the last position as shown where tray 325 is located are positioned so as to be engaged by pushers on the chain conveyor 315.

Of course, as the elevator raises the full tray from the tray-loading position and moves an empty tray 311 into position, the feed of signatures to the dense shingling location 301 must be stopped. In this connection, a suitable gap maker 331 is provided which provides for dividing the main stream of signatures which is delivered by a conveyor mechanism 330 to the dense shingling location 301. The gap maker 331 includes a mechanism which automatically operates to stop the flow of signatures to the dense shingling location 301 for a predetermined time interval to enable the full tray to be moved out of position. In fact, the gap maker 331 cooperates with the signature stream to divide the main stream of signatures being delivered by the conveyor 330 to the dense shingling location into a plurality of short spaced streams, each ofwhich contains a number of signatures which is appropriate to fill a tray which is received at the dense shingling location 301. As shown in FIG. 1, a gap in the signature stream is designated X. The trailing edge of the last signature to fill the tray at the dense shingling location is T, and the leading edge of the first signature for the next tray is designated L. The gap maker 311 may be of any conventional construction and may include a member that engages the signature stream and stops signature feeding for a predetermined time interval.

The full trays 310 which are located in the tray removal position may be removed therefrom by a suitable retriever mechanism, such as indicated in FIG. 5. This mechanism is not shown in detail in FIG. 9, but is located immediately to the right of the dense shingling location and is generally designated 340 in FIG. 9. Once the tray 310 is located in the tray removal position, the mechanism 340 moves vertically and beneath the full tray and the arms thereof are inserted beneath the full tray and raise the full tray from the elevator mechanism. The arms then retract to remove the tray from the position. The arms are extended to the opposite side of the carriage as described above and toward another conveyor mechanism which is generally designated 341.

The conveyor mechanism 341 includes a pair of chains 342 at one end thereof and another pair of chains 343 at the other end thereof. The mechanism 340 deposits the tray 310 on the conveyor mechanism 341. The conveyor mechanism 341, after the full tray is deposited thereon, indexes downwardly to move the full tray downwardly relative to the dense shingling location 301, but adjacent thereto. The conveyor 341 deposits that full tray 310 onto a pallet 350 which is located beneath the conveyor. The pallet 350 may be positioned beneath the conveyor 341 in any number of ways and as shown in the drawings a pallet 3500 is moved into position for receipt of full trays from the same side of the mechanism as the individual trays are delivered to the elevator mechanism which supports the trays during the dense shingling operation.

The pallet 350 may be suitably indexed in order to provide a plurality of rows of trays thereon. Once the pallet 350 is loaded, the pallet may be removed from the mechanism by a suitable forklift truck or other handling device for purposes of storage of the pallet with the trays supportedthereon.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 9, the tray construction is somewhat different from that in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the trays are provided with a clamp mechanism for clamping the signatures on the tray rather than a mechanism where one tray (the upper tray) has aninclined portion which engages the signatures on the lower tray to clamp the signatures thereon. The specific tray construction in the embodiment of FIG. 9 is illustrated in application Ser. No. 361,176, filed May 17, 1973. It should be obvious that any of the embodiments disclosed in the present application can be utilized with a variety of different tray constructions as discussed hereinabovc.

Having described specific preferred embodiments of the invention, the following is claimed:

1. In a system for handling signatures, means for conveying a loose shingled stream of signatures to a dense shingling location, elevator means for supporting a tray at said dense shingling location, means for forming a densely shingled array of signatures at said dense shingling location, means for operating said elevator means to move said tray with said dense shingled array thereon to a tray removal location for removal from said elevator means, and means for removing said tray from said elevator means when said tray is located at said tray removal location, said means for removing said tray from said elevator means including a vertically movable carriage having extensible load-carrying arms thereon, means for extending said load-carrying arms beneath said tray, means for raising said carriage when said arms are located beneath said tray whereby said arms pick up said tray from said elevator means and means for retracting said arms with said tray supported thereon. I

2. In a system as defined in claim 1 wherein said loadcarrying arms are extensible to opposite sides of said carraigc and further including means for extending said arms with said tray supported thereon to the side of said carriage away from said elevator means and means for lowering said carriage to deposit said tray on a tray support.

3. In a system as defined in claim 2 wherein said trays are deposited on top of another full tray and wherein said carriage includes a second pair of load-carrying arms which engage the tray and support the tray outwardly of the first pair of arms and outwardly of the array of signatures on said another tray so as to avoid interference with the array of signatures on said another tray.

4. In a system as defined in claim 1 wherein said elevator means has means for simultaneously supporting an empty tray thereon, a tray at the dense shingling location and a full tray at said tray removal location, and drive means for indexing said elevator means to move an empty tray to said dense shingling location and move a full tray to said tray removal location.

5. In a system as defined in claim 4 further including means for placing an empty tray on said elevator means.

6. In a system for handling signatures, means for conveying a stream of signatures to a tray-loading location, means for supporting a tray at said tray-loading location, means for moving an empty tray from a module in which empty trays are supported in a stacked arrangement to said tray-loading location, said means for moving an empty tray to said tray-loading location including an elevator which receives an empty tray and moves it vertically to the tray-loading location and means for removing an empty tray from said module and for placing it on said elevator, means for providing a shingled array of signatures on a tray at said trayloading location, means for supporting a tray support adjacent said tray-loading location, and means for moving said tray with the shingled array thereon from said tray-loading location and for depositing it on the tray support.

7. In a system for handling signatures as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for removing an empty tray from said module comprises a vertically movable carriage having extensible load-carrying arms thereon, means supporting said carriage for vertical movement between said module and said elevator, means for extending said arms into said module for picking up an empty tray, and means for extending said arms to the opposite side of said carriage for placing said tray on said elevator.

8. In a system for handling signatures as set forth in claim 7 further including means for supporting said module and means for moving said module relative to said carriage after empty trays have been removed from said module.

9. A system for handling signatures, said system comprising means for moving a loosely shingled stream of signatures to a loading location, means at the loading location for moving signatures from the loosely shingled stream into a densely arranged group, and means for moving the densely arranged group of signatures from the loading location to a receiving location, said means for moving the densely arranged group including extensible arm means operable from a first extended condition to a retracted condition to move the densely arranged group of signatures from said loading location and operable from said retracted condition to a second extended condition to move the densely arranged group of signatures to the receiving location.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9 further including means for disposing the signatures in a densely arranged group on a support tray, said extensible arm means including means for engaging said support tray.

11. A system as defined in claim 9 further including elevator means for supporting a tray at the dense shingling location and for indexing to receive a densely shingled arrangement of signatures on the tray and wherein said means for moving the densely arranged group includes means for removing the tray from the elevator means.

12. A system as defined in claim 11 further including a second elevator arranged adjacent the means for removing the tray and for receiving the tray from the first-recited elevator mechanism.

13. A system as defined in claim 11 further including means for dividing the main stream of signatures being advanced to the loading location into short spaced streams, each of which contains an amount of signatures appropriate to fill the tray and wherein said elevator mechanism elevates the filled tray vertically when there is a gap in the main stream being fed to the dense shingling location.

14. A method of continuously forming dense shingled stacks from a continuously moving main stream of loose shingled signatures comprising the steps of providing a generally horizontal dense shingling station of a length approximating the length of individual stacks to be formed, moving said main stream along a path the exit end of which coincides with an entrance end of said dense shingling location, vertically introducing a first stack support from below into said station to receive signatures, dividing said main stream into short spaced streams each of which contains an amount of signatures appropriate to fill said first stack support, conveying a first one of said short streams into said dense shingling station and forming a dense shingle of signatures on said first stack support, elevating said,

filled first stack support vertically and introducing a second stack support from below to occupy the space vacated at the dense shingling station by the filled first stack support, introducing a laterally-movable supporting mechanism below the first stack support and relatively moving said mechanism and said first stack support whereby said first stack support is solely supported on said mechanism, moving said mechanism laterally to a position at which said first stack and stack support may be removed for subsequent handling, and continuing the feeding of signatures, supplying of empty stack supports, dense shingling and the removal of filled stack supports.

15. A method of handling signatures, said method comprising the steps of conveying a loosely shingled stream of signatures to a dense shingling location, supporting a tray at said dense shingling location, forming a densely shingled array of signatures at said dense shingling location, moving the tray with the densely shingled array of signatures thereon to a removal location, and removing the tray with the densely shingled array of signatures thereon from said removal location to a receiving location, said step of removing the tray from the removal location includes the steps of extending an arm beneath the tray, picking up the tray be raising the arm, and retracting the arm,

16. In a system for handling signatures, means for conveying a stream of signatures to a tray loading location, means for supporting a tray having a longitudinally extending support surface at said tray loading location with said support surface in a horizontal orientation, means for forming a horizontally extending shingled array of signatures on said support surface at said tray loading location, and transfer means for moving a tray with said horizontally extending shingled array of signatures thereon from said means for supporting a tray to a tray receiving location, said transfer means including means for moving a tray along a path at least a portion of which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the said support surface with said support surface in a horizontal orientation.

17. In a system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said transfer means includes means for forming at said receiving location a vertical array of trays with horizontally extending shingled arrays of signatures thereon.

18. in a system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for supporting a tray includes elevator means for moving a tray along a vertical path from said tray loading location to a tray removal location with said support surface in a horizontal orientation, said transfer means including means for engaging a tray at said tray removal location.

19. In a system for handling signatures, means for conveying a stream of signatures to a tray loading location, means for supporting a tray having a longitudinally extending support surface at said tray loading location, means for forming a longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures on said support surface at said tray loading location, and transfer means for moving a tray with said longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures thereon from said means for supporting a tray to a tray receiving location, said transfer means including extensible arm means for enagaging a tray and means for operating said extensible arm means between a retracted condition in which said arm means has a first effective length and an extended condition in which said arm means has a second effective length which is greater than said first effective length to move a tray engaged by said arm means.

20. in a system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said transfer means further includes means for moving said arm means along a path which extends transversely to the path of movement of said arm means between said extended and retracted conditions.

2]. In a system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said means for supporting a tray includes means for supporting a tray at said tray loading location with said longitudinally extending support surface in a horizontal orientation, said arm means including means for supporting a tray with said longitudinally extending support surface in a horizontal orientation as said arm means is operated between said extended and retracted conditions.

22. In a system for handling signatures, means for conveying a stream of signatures to a tray loading location, tray support means for supporting each of a plurality of longitudinally extending trays in turn at a tray loading location, empty tray transfer means for moving each of the trays in turn along a first path from a location spaced apart from said tray support means into engagement with said tray support means, means for forming a longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures on each one of said trays in turn at said tray loading location which the one tray is supported by said tray support means, and loaded tray transfer means for enagaing a tray which is supported by said tray support means and which is loaded with a longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures and for moving an engaged tray away from said tray support means along a second path to a receiving location spaced apart from said tray support means with the longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures on the engaged tray.

23. In a system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said loaded tray transfer means includes means for stacking loaded trays in a vertical array at said receiving location with a longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures on each of the stacked trays.

24. In a system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said tray support means includes means for moving each of the trays in turn along a third path extending transversely to said first and second paths.

25. In a system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said loaded tray transfer means includes means for moving a loaded tray with the longitudinally extending array of signatures thereon in a horizontal orientation.

26. in a system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said empty tray transfer means is disposed on a first side of said tray support means and said loaded tray transfer means is disposed on a second side of said tray support means.

27. In a system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said tray support means includes means for supporting a tray at any one of a plurality of levels and for moving a tray between said levels, said empty tray transfer means being operable to move an empty tray into engagement with said tray support means at a first level,

and said loaded tray transfer means being operable to enage a loaded tray at a second level which is spaced apart from said first level.

28. in a system as set forth in claim 27 wherein said loading location is disposed at a third level intermediate said first and second levels.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Dated April 1, 1975 Patent No. 3 8'74 522 Victoriano Fernandez Rana It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 12, line 51 delete "be" and insert by.

Column 14, line 41 delete "enage" and insert engage.

Signed and sealed this 1.51: day of July U75,

o in;

[attest C. IZARSLLLL D5312? RUTH C. FEEL-SON Commissioner oi." Patents and Trademarks Attesting Officer 

1. In a system for handling signatures, means for conveying a loose shingled stream of signatures to a dense shingling location, elevator means for supporting a tray at said dense shingling location, means for forming a densely shingled array of signatures at said dense shingling location, means for operating said elevator means to move said tray with said dense shingled array thereon to a tray removal location for removal from said elevator means, and means for removing said tray from said elevator means when said tray is located at said tray removal location, said means for removing said tray from said elevator means including a vertically movable carriage having extensible load-carrying arms thereon, means for extending said load-carrying arms beneath said tray, means for raising said carriage when said arms are located beneath said tray whereby said arms pick up said tray from said elevator means and means for retracting said arms with said tray supported thereon.
 2. In a system as defined in claim 1 wherein said load-carrying arms are extensible to opposite sides of said carraige and further including means for extending said arms with said tray supported thereon to the side of said carriage away from said elevator means and means for lowering said carriage to deposit said trAy on a tray support.
 3. In a system as defined in claim 2 wherein said trays are deposited on top of another full tray and wherein said carriage includes a second pair of load-carrying arms which engage the tray and support the tray outwardly of the first pair of arms and outwardly of the array of signatures on said another tray so as to avoid interference with the array of signatures on said another tray.
 4. In a system as defined in claim 1 wherein said elevator means has means for simultaneously supporting an empty tray thereon, a tray at the dense shingling location and a full tray at said tray removal location, and drive means for indexing said elevator means to move an empty tray to said dense shingling location and move a full tray to said tray removal location.
 5. In a system as defined in claim 4 further including means for placing an empty tray on said elevator means.
 6. In a system for handling signatures, means for conveying a stream of signatures to a tray-loading location, means for supporting a tray at said tray-loading location, means for moving an empty tray from a module in which empty trays are supported in a stacked arrangement to said tray-loading location, said means for moving an empty tray to said tray-loading location including an elevator which receives an empty tray and moves it vertically to the tray-loading location and means for removing an empty tray from said module and for placing it on said elevator, means for providing a shingled array of signatures on a tray at said tray-loading location, means for supporting a tray support adjacent said tray-loading location, and means for moving said tray with the shingled array thereon from said tray-loading location and for depositing it on the tray support.
 7. In a system for handling signatures as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for removing an empty tray from said module comprises a vertically movable carriage having extensible load-carrying arms thereon, means supporting said carriage for vertical movement between said module and said elevator, means for extending said arms into said module for picking up an empty tray, and means for extending said arms to the opposite side of said carriage for placing said tray on said elevator.
 8. In a system for handling signatures as set forth in claim 7 further including means for supporting said module and means for moving said module relative to said carriage after empty trays have been removed from said module.
 9. A system for handling signatures, said system comprising means for moving a loosely shingled stream of signatures to a loading location, means at the loading location for moving signatures from the loosely shingled stream into a densely arranged group, and means for moving the densely arranged group of signatures from the loading location to a receiving location, said means for moving the densely arranged group including extensible arm means operable from a first extended condition to a retracted condition to move the densely arranged group of signatures from said loading location and operable from said retracted condition to a second extended condition to move the densely arranged group of signatures to the receiving location.
 10. A system as set forth in claim 9 further including means for disposing the signatures in a densely arranged group on a support tray, said extensible arm means including means for engaging said support tray.
 11. A system as defined in claim 9 further including elevator means for supporting a tray at the dense shingling location and for indexing to receive a densely shingled arrangement of signatures on the tray and wherein said means for moving the densely arranged group includes means for removing the tray from the elevator means.
 12. A system as defined in claim 11 further including a second elevator arranged adjacent the means for removing the tray and for receiving the tray from the first-recited elevator mechanism.
 13. A system as defined in claim 11 furthEr including means for dividing the main stream of signatures being advanced to the loading location into short spaced streams, each of which contains an amount of signatures appropriate to fill the tray and wherein said elevator mechanism elevates the filled tray vertically when there is a gap in the main stream being fed to the dense shingling location.
 14. A method of continuously forming dense shingled stacks from a continuously moving main stream of loose shingled signatures comprising the steps of providing a generally horizontal dense shingling station of a length approximating the length of individual stacks to be formed, moving said main stream along a path the exit end of which coincides with an entrance end of said dense shingling location, vertically introducing a first stack support from below into said station to receive signatures, dividing said main stream into short spaced streams each of which contains an amount of signatures appropriate to fill said first stack support, conveying a first one of said short streams into said dense shingling station and forming a dense shingle of signatures on said first stack support, elevating said filled first stack support vertically and introducing a second stack support from below to occupy the space vacated at the dense shingling station by the filled first stack support, introducing a laterally-movable supporting mechanism below the first stack support and relatively moving said mechanism and said first stack support whereby said first stack support is solely supported on said mechanism, moving said mechanism laterally to a position at which said first stack and stack support may be removed for subsequent handling, and continuing the feeding of signatures, supplying of empty stack supports, dense shingling and the removal of filled stack supports.
 15. A method of handling signatures, said method comprising the steps of conveying a loosely shingled stream of signatures to a dense shingling location, supporting a tray at said dense shingling location, forming a densely shingled array of signatures at said dense shingling location, moving the tray with the densely shingled array of signatures thereon to a removal location, and removing the tray with the densely shingled array of signatures thereon from said removal location to a receiving location, said step of removing the tray from the removal location includes the steps of extending an arm beneath the tray, picking up the tray be raising the arm, and retracting the arm.
 16. In a system for handling signatures, means for conveying a stream of signatures to a tray loading location, means for supporting a tray having a longitudinally extending support surface at said tray loading location with said support surface in a horizontal orientation, means for forming a horizontally extending shingled array of signatures on said support surface at said tray loading location, and transfer means for moving a tray with said horizontally extending shingled array of signatures thereon from said means for supporting a tray to a tray receiving location, said transfer means including means for moving a tray along a path at least a portion of which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the said support surface with said support surface in a horizontal orientation.
 17. In a system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said transfer means includes means for forming at said receiving location a vertical array of trays with horizontally extending shingled arrays of signatures thereon.
 18. In a system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for supporting a tray includes elevator means for moving a tray along a vertical path from said tray loading location to a tray removal location with said support surface in a horizontal orientation, said transfer means including means for engaging a tray at said tray removal location.
 19. In a system for handling signatures, means for conveying a stream of signatures to a tray loading location, means for supporting a traY having a longitudinally extending support surface at said tray loading location, means for forming a longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures on said support surface at said tray loading location, and transfer means for moving a tray with said longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures thereon from said means for supporting a tray to a tray receiving location, said transfer means including extensible arm means for enagaging a tray and means for operating said extensible arm means between a retracted condition in which said arm means has a first effective length and an extended condition in which said arm means has a second effective length which is greater than said first effective length to move a tray engaged by said arm means.
 20. In a system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said transfer means further includes means for moving said arm means along a path which extends transversely to the path of movement of said arm means between said extended and retracted conditions.
 21. In a system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said means for supporting a tray includes means for supporting a tray at said tray loading location with said longitudinally extending support surface in a horizontal orientation, said arm means including means for supporting a tray with said longitudinally extending support surface in a horizontal orientation as said arm means is operated between said extended and retracted conditions.
 22. In a system for handling signatures, means for conveying a stream of signatures to a tray loading location, tray support means for supporting each of a plurality of longitudinally extending trays in turn at a tray loading location, empty tray transfer means for moving each of the trays in turn along a first path from a location spaced apart from said tray support means into engagement with said tray support means, means for forming a longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures on each one of said trays in turn at said tray loading location which the one tray is supported by said tray support means, and loaded tray transfer means for enagaing a tray which is supported by said tray support means and which is loaded with a longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures and for moving an engaged tray away from said tray support means along a second path to a receiving location spaced apart from said tray support means with the longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures on the engaged tray.
 23. In a system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said loaded tray transfer means includes means for stacking loaded trays in a vertical array at said receiving location with a longitudinally extending shingled array of signatures on each of the stacked trays.
 24. In a system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said tray support means includes means for moving each of the trays in turn along a third path extending transversely to said first and second paths.
 25. In a system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said loaded tray transfer means includes means for moving a loaded tray with the longitudinally extending array of signatures thereon in a horizontal orientation.
 26. In a system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said empty tray transfer means is disposed on a first side of said tray support means and said loaded tray transfer means is disposed on a second side of said tray support means.
 27. In a system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said tray support means includes means for supporting a tray at any one of a plurality of levels and for moving a tray between said levels, said empty tray transfer means being operable to move an empty tray into engagement with said tray support means at a first level, and said loaded tray transfer means being operable to enage a loaded tray at a second level which is spaced apart from said first level.
 28. In a system as set forth in claim 27 wherein said loading location is disposed at a third level intermediate said first and second levels. 